The Mujahideen al-Khalq is also known as the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), the Mujahideen al-Khalq Organization (MKO), the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA), The People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), or the National Council of Resistance (NCR). The organization, which got its start in the 1960s, is a violent guerilla group that opposes the Islamic Iranian government. Although the MEK opposed the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and participated in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, it was prohibited from taking part in the post-revolutionary government because of its leftist leanings. The group was driven from Iran and has operated from Iraq since the Iran-Iraq war began in the 1980s. Before the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the MEK enjoyed decades of behind the scenes support from Saddam Hussein's government.
The MEK has been officially designated as a terrorist group by both the United States and the European Commission. In early 2003, the MEK was reportedly forced by the U.S. military operating in Iraq to disarm and surrender or face destruction. While rumors continue to circulate that the MEK is being used by the United States to increase pressure on the Iranian government, there have also been rumors that the U.S. administration is secretly negotiating with Iran to trade MEK operatives captured by the U.S. for al-Qaida operatives held by Iran. [1]
In June 2003, the group had its some of its French properties raided, after suspicions that it was trying to shift its base of operations there. [1]
